#battle on the big bridge my beloved

[sashaisready]

This Must Be The Place: Chapter 11 - Cover up the blank spots

Biker!Bucky x Femme Reader

Back at your beloved late grandmother's home to pack up her house, you have a run-in with the town's biker gang 'The Howling Commandos' and find yourself entangled with the metal armed President.

Series Masterlist

Warnings: Angst, nobody really having a great time.

Me again! Thanks for the wonderful response to last chapter. Bucky is still an idiot I’m sorry to say…but he’s getting there.

As always thank-you for the lovely reblogs and comments, it makes my day reading them!

As the door slammed loudly behind you, the group stood in silence looking at Bucky as he just stared back at the exit where you’d just been. The many sets of eyes on him seemed to snap him out of it, he snarled and turned to them.

“Well? We’re closed. Why are you all still here?”

The group blanched but glanced at each other. They seemed to be battling with obeying an order from their President but also wanting to speak up. Amber and the girls took that as their cue, grabbing their things and scattering out of the bar. Amber scowled at Bucky as she left, which he pointedly ignored.

Bucky continued to glare questioningly at the group before Steve finally cleared his throat and spoke, “I don’t think she did it, Buck”.

Steve crouched down and began to pick up the discarded notes you had flung at Bucky. He gathered them all into a pile and shuffled them against the bar to straighten them into a neat bundle.

“I don’t think she did either,” Nat spat as she pointed an accusatory, manicured finger at Bucky. “And that was really fucked up, reading her the riot act in front of everybody like that. At least confront her privately”.

There was a quiet murmur from the others, seemingly in agreement.

Bucky glowered at Nat, “Watch your tone, Romanoff” he warned. He didn’t like to pull rank but he didn’t like his authority being disrespected by members, either.

She held up her hands defensively, but her voice softened, “Okay – I’m sorry. I’m not trying to disrespect you here, but you always say we can speak freely, and that this isn’t a dictatorship. Right?”

He frowned but nodded reluctantly.

“Well…I don’t think she did it,” Nat continued. “I don’t think she’s so hard up for money that she needs to steal 170 bucks or whatever. I’ve seen her make that in tips on a big night! And even if she was stealing, she’s not dumb enough to take it all outta the register at once. And then leave it in her purse! She’s worked in bars for years, she knows receipts are checked against takings. She knows you count the cash every night and it would’ve immediately shown up”.

Bucky put one hand on his hip and ran the other through his hair. His tone was still firm, but he looked visibly stressed, “So, what, she just happens to be carrying around a wad of bills that are about the same amount that we’re missing?”

Steve sighed. “I agree with Nat, she looked genuinely shocked to be accused. And she’s not stupid. If she was gonna steal I think she’d skim small amounts off the top so we don’t notice. And this,” he held up the cash, “I think she was telling the truth about it being her grandma’s money, its kinda musty and old, like it’s been stored somewhere a while, it doesn’t feel or smell like the rest of the bills in the register. It tracks that she found it in her stashed in her nanna’s house or whatever”.

“Old lady money,” Peter nodded sagely.

The others all looked at him for a second.

Bucky rolled his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Alright…everybody out, now, except Steve and Sam”.

They followed his lead and dispersed as they mumbled their goodbyes, the thundering roar of motorcycles ringing out as they peeled out of the parking lot just moments later. Bucky could feel their disapproving gazes on him as they left, the guilt swimming in his stomach as he started to think about what he’d done. 

“Fuck…” muttered Bucky. He frowned and rubbed his temples with his thumb and little finger.

“Why’d you check her bag in the first place, man?” Sam asked, “clearly you had suspicions about her if you went through her stuff”.

Bucky frowned, “I don’t know,” he admitted, “I wasn’t even thinking that the money was stolen…or that she would’ve stolen it…I just saw her purse in the office and…just sort of found myself picking it up without even really knowing why. And just as I was feeling like a total asshole and about to put it back, I saw the cash. And I saw red…I was so angry, so…hurt…that she could do something like that to me…to all of us when we’ve accepted her into the group…I didn’t really think I just-”

He winced, his head falling into his hands.

“Fuck”, was all he said.

“That was messed up,” Sam told him firmly.

“I know…fuck…I fucked up, bad”.

Steve clamped a hand onto his old friend’s back, giving him a reassuring pat. “Do you think part of the reason you had such a strong reaction is because you’re sleeping together, and when you thought she’d done that, it felt more personal?”

Bucky blanched, “wait, we’re not…”

“C’mon man, we’re not blind,” Sam chuckled.

Bucky looked guiltily between his two friends, immediately dropping the charade, “is it that obvious?”

Sam just grinned, “It wasn’t. But I saw you grab her ass earlier”.

Bucky groaned.

“You’re not that obvious. Mostly,” Steve explained matter-of-factly, “but I’ve seen the secret looks. The way you’re always touching her. The weird vibe the two of you have, with your little fights and what-not. There’s clear chemistry there. I don’t think the others have caught up yet, though”.

Bucky grimaced then rolled his eyes.

“You’re too damn good at your job…” he growled, but then softened as he considered Steve’s words.

“And yeah…I guess I felt…betrayed…when I thought she’d stolen. It was like she’d stolen from me. I just got so mad thinking about how she could be so sweet to my face but do that to me…but I shouldn’t have gone through her bag…I shouldn’t have yelled at her like that…in front of everyone…shouldn’t have been an asshole”.

Sam and Steve nodded in agreement.

He groaned, “fuck. What a fucking mess. What’s going on? I’m falling apart here…this isn’t like me at all”.

Steve and Sam shared a heavy look.

“You need to fix it,” Steve told him.

“I don’t know if I can…I really hurt her”.

“You need to try, at least. And you owe her a grovelling apology”, said Sam.

“Yeah. She’s a nice gal. And she’s also the best bartender we got,” Steve advised pragmatically as he pulled out his phone and began tapping away at it.

“And we need to figure out what happened to that money,” Sam added.

“Maybe we did fuck up the numbers somehow and we weren’t light? But I checked…so did Steve-,” Bucky pondered.

Steve suddenly started to wave his phone in the air.

“Mm. Well, just call me Poirot I guess…” he said without looking up from his screen.

Bucky and Sam exchanged a puzzled look before leaning over to see what Steve was looking at.

He was logged into the bar’s Instagram page, flicking through the stories that customers had tagged the bar in that night. Between the drunken selfies and silly filters, Steve stopped on a video of the bachelor party from earlier – the men singing tunelessly and belly laughing as they swayed in front of the bar, their knees buckling as they leaned against it.

“Drunk guys. So what? What am I looking at here?” Bucky muttered.

Steve held his finger on the screen as Sam and Bucky leaned closer. Behind the partygoers, clear as day, the cameraperson had inadvertently caught Tom the bartender quite literally with his hand in the register – quickly shovelling a wad of bills into his pocket before turning to pick up some discarded glasses. It was fast, but unmistakeable.

Bucky’s fists clenched at his sides.

“That sonofa…”

*

You had managed to drive home without crashing the car, which was no mean feat considering what a mess your head was currently in. But you were also weirdly numb, driving almost on autopilot as muscle memory got you back home.

You were humiliated. Embarrassed. Angry. Devastated. You felt too many things to count, your emotions so overwhelming that you’d short circuited. You couldn’t believe Bucky would do that to you, in front of everyone, that he thought so little of you that he assumed you were a thief – even digging through your private things without a moment’s hesitation.

At least, thank God, you hadn’t already shared your true feelings for him. How stupid you were! You were gearing yourself for your big movie moment while he’d written you off as a lying crook! You felt ashamed you’d allowed yourself to be so caught up in him, to let your body be enjoyed by a man who clearly had so little respect for you. You must’ve been an easy mark for him, the stupid temp bartender who was so easily bedded with a few nice words.

You trudged inside, methodically changing into your pyjamas and getting ready for bed. You kept replaying the MC’s pitying eyes in your head over and over, screwing up your face as you re-lived in the embarrassment in real time. You could see the rage on Bucky’s face, the face of the intimidating MC President, not the tender man who kissed your forehead when he thought you’d fallen asleep on the couch.

Tomorrow, you would allow yourself exactly one day to wallow: a day of take-out, crying and bad movies. And then that would be it. After tomorrow you’d get going again. You’d drop off Granny’s donation to the shelter (well…your donation now). You’d finish the DIY. Fix the damn fence. You’d call the realtor and get the house valued, get it on the market and start taking viewings. You’d start making plans for your next move, call up some old job leads, start looking at apartment listings in new cities. Or maybe you’d take a chunk of the money from the house sale and go on a fancy ass vacation like Granny would’ve wanted.

As you get into bed, you close your eyes and visualise a brief fantasy…

…boarding everything up and leaving early in the morning, zipping away in Sally to your next adventure as you look back wistfully at the house. Mere seconds later, Bucky turns up to your door, flowers in hand, when he’s learned the truth about the money. He falls to his knees as he realises you’re gone forever, he’s too late! Sobbing and wailing, crying out your name as it begins to pour with rain and-

Okay. Maybe a little dramatic. But it was your fantasy.

A loud knock at the door tears you from your thoughts. You frown, having a good idea who it might be…

“Sugar…open up, it’s me,” Bucky calls through your door, his tone sheepish and contrite. “Please…”

Part of you is tempted to stay in bed and let him stew, but you’re unable to contain how angry you feel, so you stomp down the stairs and swing open the front door.

He looks surprised, then relieved, that you actually answered. Standing on the doorstep in his kutte, he somehow appears drastically more tired and weary than he did just an hour ago, there’s an expression anguish on his face you’ve never seen before – and the beginnings of bags tease under his wide eyes.

No flowers though.

“Sugar…thank god…look, I’m so sorry, I fucked up, I really fucked up…”, he babbles as he reaches for you, “I know it wasn’t you. It was Tom. We’re dealing with him now. Oh Jesus, Sug, I messed up, I don’t know what I was thinking…I shouldn’t have touched your bag. I shouldn’t have yelled. I shouldn’t have accused you…”

Part of your resolve wobbles at his direct display of vulnerability. This is what you wanted, an apology, vindication, and humility.

But it’s all too fresh. And your pain is so raw.

 You step away from him, and he visibly wilts. You are unmoved.

“Save it,” you spit.

He pales but stays quiet.

“I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to hear any of it. Just like you didn’t want to hear it at the bar. You said everything you needed to back there. And of course it was Tom, only an idiot couldn’t see that,” you sneer angrily. “Now, get the fuck away from my property, or I’ll call the police”.

You go to slam the door, pausing at the last second as you meet his gaze.

“I just…I can’t believe you’d think that of me,” you tell him, your voice cracking slightly, “that you would think…that I’d do that to you”.

He tries to speak but the door slams in his face, and you’re grateful your tears wait until you get upstairs before they shed. You hear a small thud and his motorcycle roaring to life just a few moments later.

You sigh, picking up your phone. You scroll through to messages and bring up the one from Peter you received earlier.

As you compose a response, an envelope has been slid under your front door. It lays on the doormat at an angle. $175 sits inside, along with your final paycheck and tips. Scribbled on the front reads a single phrase.

I’m sorry.

*

[rabbitshat]

I have such a devious little idea, imagine with me if you will.

RiseTMNT and Arcane AU

Theres no Rise Mystic/Magic, its all Arcane cannon magic

The hidden city becomes the Undercity/Zaun and NewYork is replaced by Piltover.

Humans are first class citizens, Yokai live in the Undercity as second class citizens and Mutants are third class.

Donnie(20) my beloved with spinal issues bcs of some accident in his youth working his ass off to gain footing in Piltover and trying to make the world a better place for the people in the Undercity(a Viktor replacement in a way). He left the Undercity about five years ago.

The rest of the turtles have to steal from humans, as one does, to survive. But when that stops being a reliable source of money for food (necessities in the Undercity are suuuper over priced, even to Piltover standars, but what are they gonna do? Go up top and buy there? Thats a joke.) Raph(23) goes to work for Big Mama and gains her as a patron in a way. Hes still massive and a scary bastard, he has a side hustle in the BloodDome as one of its best fighters.

Leo's(20) leader of the Firelights, a real revolutionary that one. After Raph started to work for BigMama, Leo took the reigns as Mike's(17) big bro. He started to gain a sort of street rep similar to Raph's, but in a much more "family man" kind of way. He is known to have loyalty that kills, the family comes first and if someone --even if they themselves are a part of the family-- threatens his family (especially the younger ones) they will face a painful death.

Mike's(17) know as the Icarus but simultaneously the Sun of the Undercity. He's a dreamer and almost all teens his age in the city love to hate him. The kids love him and his art of course, he even might teach you how to run the rooftops. But the teens hate how untouched by the cruel life in the Undercity he seems, there's a lot of prejudice in those thoughts in the "how dare a mutant be so care free". Of course they cant really DO anything to him, what with Leo and Raph's reputations on the streets (even if BigRed isnt around all that much) but they go to extreme lengths to ostracize him.

Splinter, a very reputable and beloved Council member that got mutated by ~mysterious circumstances~ that runs away to the Undercity only to find the four brothers.

Imagine with me, Donnie on the bridge that connects the Undercity Leo beside him begging him to cone home. He tells him how isolated Mike is, how Raph has been working and fighting for BigMama. How he needs to just come home so they can finally be a family again. A lie he knows all too well, he tells it to himself everytime he catches a glance of Raph on the more seedy parts of the Undercity standing over a beat up yokai, the pink glow of BigMama's drug enhancements reflecting off the alley's walls. He repeats it every time he sees the other teens ridicule Mike as if he were some sort of vermin.

If Donnie, his brother, his twin just comes home everything will be ok again. Its been so long and his back looks so much worse, and please just leave it all behind and come home.

Its an unfair ask, he knows that, its selfish but he cant do this anymore.

"I cant, i have a lot left to do still. I promised you id only go back when i found a way to make life better for everyone. And i did! I just need time-"

"How much time do you STILL need Donnie?! Its been five years! Mike's not a little kid anymore- hes seventeen! I almost cant recognize Raph anymore, Dad's gone and it feels like im losing YOU. What? Do you think you fit better up here?! Are you better than us now that you 'made it' up here?! Are you one of the good ones just because you have something to give them?!"

Its an ugly fight, words were said and their already fragile bond feels like someone took a serrated bread knife and cut into it a thousand times.

Leo has never wanted to die more than the day the news of the Council being blown up reaches his ears, the day the people of Zaun celebrated the start of a battle for freedom. The day he thought his brother was dead and the last thing they did together was fight.

(I haven't watched the new Arcane season but im very exited to lol)

[missoneminute]

The Libs on Waterloo: A comedy of errors

Rockin'on interview, 2015

Interviewer: What about You're My Waterloo then? This is a love song about a beloved soul mate who one is destined to meet once in a lifetime but who also becomes his nemesis later. Is this about you from Peter's point of view?

Carl: But the phrase of the song is a metaphor for Napoleon's most worthy opponent, which means Admiral Nelson who defeated him at the Battle of the Waterloo.

Interviewer: I think it was not Admiral Nelson but the Duke of Wellington that beat Napoleon at Waterloo.

Carl: Shit. Nelson was the one at the Battle of Trafalgar. My mind is in a haze after touring every day (blushes). Back to your question, the name of the song used an English colloquial word that implies respect for the best opponent of one's life. Saying it's a love song will cause funny misunderstanding again ...

Interviewer: But the lyrics say 'you're the only lover I had who ever slept with a knife'? Oh well.

Les In Rocks interview, 2015

Interviewer: In ‘You’re My Waterloo’ on your new album, you sing 'You are the survivor of more than one life’. Even though this song was written long ago, do you feel like survivors?

Peter Doherty: Carl didn’t write that song about me. And I didn’t write it about Carl. That line comes from the shock of learning that when he was born Carl had a twin brother, who died when he was a baby. We played it at a concert recently. Just after I sing, 'You’re the only lover I’ve had’, sometimes people like to look for clues about our relationship, but every time I meet his gaze when I’m singing those lines, he makes this face [looks up to the sky and shakes his head, grimacing].

Carl Barat: I actually used to sleep with a knife.

Peter Doherty: Yeah, what’s strange is that he actually used to sleep with a knife.

Carl Barat: It made you paranoid, so I stopped. You were really upset, 'What’s that? Are you going to use it against me?’

Peter Doherty: I don’t like to think about the time that Carl threatened me with a knife and …[he shudders]. I think when you’re openly straight, at 18, and they think you’re a mod, and you’re going to the indie-nights every night, trying to find a girl, without any success, all of that creates this strange atmosphere. Imagine us, both sitting on the night bus home, after spending the evening in the West End, trying to chat up a French girl, in vain…

Interviewer: To return to the question, do you feel like survivors?

Peter Doherty: Oh, I’m sorry. What’s the origin of that line. The first time that Carl took me to his mother’s house, I saw a photograph of his twin brother, and that made a big impression on me. In fact, it even became somewhat unhealthy, because afterwards, I used to tell everyone that I had a twin brother who died. It was a bit weird.

Carl Barat: Fortunately, it was not done with any bad intent.

Peter Doherty: I’m so honest that five minutes after I said it I confessed that it was a lie.

Carl Barat: So you’re a survivor?

Peter Doherty: I am a survivor of lies, of course, 'more than one life.’

A Likely Lad, 2022

"'You're My Waterloo'... ended up being one of The Libertines' big songs. There's a line in that song, 'You're the survivor of more than one life', which is about Carl - his twin brother died when they were just weeks old - but the actual subject matter of the song was Sally. 'You're My Waterloo' was also an important song for the development of Carl and me as songwriters. I had these chords and lyrics and bang, he came out with the bridge straight away. He wrote the musical melodies in answer to the lyrics that were about him, the idea being they entwine in rhapsodic ecstasy. It was a real symbol of what we could do together."

[blackjackkent]

I accidentally clicked on Jaheira and discovered she has follow-up dialogue about the Minsc reveal! How did I never think to check this with Hector?

This is actually a delightful (and feelsy) little conversation.

"The Counting House. More bastion than bank, I'm afraid. Minsc must have a way in, but he's never had much use for coin beyond whatever sharp steel it could buy."

(Rakha reflects that this seems to be yet another similarity between this Minsc and herself.)

"There must be something in the vaults the great Chosen are after," Jaheira continues thoughtfully. "All the more reason to get there - swiftly."

Perhaps a slightly pointed comment given that Rakha just got sidetracked in order to blow up a building full of Absolutists.

"So you do believe he's working for the cult?" Rakha asks.

"I have no reason to doubt the guildmaster's information," Jaheira says ruefully. "Only her conclusions. The Stone Lord she describes sounds nothing like Minsc. As for the name, well..." She frowns. "A bad joke, perhaps."

She snorts, seeing Rakha's evident puzzlement. "The Time of Troubles ended almost a century and a half ago. I weathered the years between with all the elven grace you have no doubt come to expect. But do you know how Minsc, a human, passed those years? I'll give you a hint - they named him the 'Beloved Ranger.'"

There's an expectant pause while Rakha searches her rotted-out memory for any record of these words. But there is nothing - beyond, of course, the beast's low-level grumbling of disgust and rage at the mention of Minsc's name.

Jaheira quirks an eyebrow. "No? It was a statue, dedicated to one of the city's lost heroes - only it *was* that hero. Minsc, frozen in stone for a century. And freed, the story goes, in the city's hour of need."

Rakha makes a thoughtful noise, digesting this. Curiosity takes over, subsuming the rage-instinct for a moment. "How could he have been stuck that way for a century?" she asks.

Jaheira grins sardonically. "Because who would question a statue to our friend, thinking Minsc of Rashemen had returned to a hero's welcome *in* Rashemen?"

The smile fades rapidly, replaced by a troubled expression that is tinged with guilt. "I don't even know how he was freed. Harper work would take me from the city - sometimes for years at a time. The few occasions I visited his monument, well... I took it as a moment for reflection. To think of old friends, and the fight I had to continue in their name." She clicks her tongue, waving a hand in frustration. "And during all my self-serious brooding, that big, dumb, *insufferable* buffoon was staring me in the face!"

Rakha nods slowly, following the story. "And you stared right back," she says pensively, "without even realizing it was him."

Jaheira laughs again, too sharply. "I did. On occasion, I even found myself critiquing the stonework. 'Surely his head was not so large as this?'"

She sighs, rubs at the bridge of her nose, and shakes her head. "I am not a particularly good friend," she mutters. "But I am his friend. And I cannot let Nine-Fingers have him."

Rakha watches as she turns away, and feels a flash of puzzlement.

Jaheira has known this Minsc for many years. She has fought battles with him. She describes him as someone like Rakha - capable of berserk rage and mad charges, addled and strange - but nevertheless she traveled with him, and no doubt gave him the same guidance she gives Rakha. She now drops everything to find him, to save him.

What reason can she possibly have to call herself a poor friend? What more could there possibly be than this?

[the-marshals-wife]

Hey i was wondering if you could please write a fluff Wrecker x reader where he is being a big baby as Tech is trying to patch up one of his wounds and reader is trying everything to keep him calm and not freaked out

Good Medicine (Wrecker x Reader)

A/N: Absolutely. I'll never be mad about getting to write this precious man child. Wrecker is dangerously close to becoming my second favorite Bad Batcher, after Tech of course. (Sorry for the insane delay responding to this. There were many physical and mental health challenges for me in 2022.)

Description: Wrecker x Fem!Reader (also Tech is present as comic relief lol)

Rating: General audiences, hurt+comfort fluff

Warnings: A Star Wars swear, mentions of blood and stiches

Setting: Up to you (literally, because I only wrote three characters, you decide were the rest of the babes are)

Word count: 1,024

Gif credit: user kamino-coruscant

Even from across the ship, you can see the anger on Hunter's face as he leans against the wall, gritting his teeth. If Wrecker screamed one more time, you worried that the sergeant was going make good on his jokes about the airlock and put his languishing brother out of his misery.

Tech continues his beleaguered attempts at bargaining for stitches, gauze and bacta in hand, "If you do not stop moving about, I will never get this wound dressed."

"It hurts!" Wrecker wails, pulling away further.

"Considering the size of the shrapnel I removed and the damage you sustained, I would be concerned if it didn't," Tech scoffs.

"It hurt less before you took it out," Wrecker argues, temper flaring, "I don't want stitches. I'll be fine!"

You bounce your leg, watching the chaos escalate from the co-pilots seat. Moments before, you'd helped remove Wrecker's gnarled leg armor, and the sight of blood soaking through his blacks was still fresh in your thoughts. You weren't sure why it was bothering you. Wrecker had experienced his fair share of battle damage. One look at him and anyone would know he was not an average man, let alone a typical clone. You were pretty sure he even enjoyed receiving some his scars if for no other reason than to be able to brag about surviving something others couldn't. However, this wasn't just a cauterized burn from a stray blaster bolt. This was a bloody, messy injury to someone you'd truly come to care for. That made it different.

You push the awful image from your mind as Hunter approaches.

"Y/N, maybe you could talk to him. He's calmer when you're around," he sighs, slumping into the seat beside you, "Quieter, anyway."

"Are you sure? I don't want to get in Tech's way," you start to object.

Tech wastes no time in interjecting, "I assure you, Y/N, any assistance you can provide will not hinder in my work whatsoever."

"Please," Hunter agrees, pinching the bridge of his nose, "He shrieks like a kriffin' gundark."

"I heard that!" Wrecker calls out before turning his attention back to Tech, "Don't you come anywhere near me with a needle. I don't like needles!"

Tech mutters something about preventing infection as Wrecker leans as far away as his injured leg will allow. You can't help but smile a little over the fuss he was making. It may be giving your squadmates a headache, but in a strange way, it was comforting for you to hear Wrecker carry on. It meant he was going to be alright. And with that relief came an idea.

You sprint back to Wrecker's bunk, and return seconds later with your arms behind your back.

"Oh Wrecker, I've got something for you," you say, very obviously hiding something.

His focus is on you instantly, "What? What have you got?"

"Something to make you feel better," you chuckle at his excitement. You stretch your arms out and reveal the tooka doll.

"My Lula!" he exclaims as you place the beloved plush in his hands, "She does make me feel better!"

Tech gives you a subtle nod. Your distraction is working.

You kneel next to Wrecker's seat, trying not to look at the saturated crimson bandages in the tray beside you. "You know Tech has to stitch your leg up now, right?"

"Yeah, I know," Wrecker groaned, accepting his fate, "I just hate stitches."

"Yeah, I do too. If it will help, you can hold my hand until it's over," you offer, smiling.

He looks up with wide eyes, "Really?"

"Do you wish you have your hand broken?" Tech questions, pushing up his goggles.

You give a him an unamused glance, then turn back to Wrecker, "Of course you can."

He grins as you place your hand into his much larger open palm.

"Alright, 'Doc'," he says with a renewed confidence, "Do your worst."

As Tech begins the procedure, your gaze drifts towards the patient. It occurs to you that you've never been this close to Wrecker before. You also realize have taken his size and strength for granted as you see that his massive fingers envelop your entire hand. Yet despite his great size and power, he is incredibly gentle. He flinches and tenses up as part of his leg is quite literally pulled back together, but he doesn't squeeze your hand or cause you pain. The man you'd seen rip apart droids with his bare hands was now cradling yours. In fact, the shouting had stopped altogether. Hunter was right: Wrecker was calm around you. Lula in his lap couldn't have hurt, either.

"Finished," Tech announces.

"That's it?" Wrecker asks, genuinely surprised. "Huh. Thought it'd hurt more than that."

"See? You did great! I knew you would," you applaud.

Tech rolls his eyes, gathering up the refuse and closing the med kit. "Next time, we shall begin with hand clasping."

The fatigued clone goes to join Hunter in the cockpit, leaving you and Wrecker alone for a moment.

He hasn't let go of your hand yet, and your heart skips as he meets your gaze. "Thanks for being here with me, Y/N. It means a lot, you know?"

"You're welcome, Wrecker. I'm just glad you're alright," you reply, worry slipping through in your voice, "I hate that you're hurting."

"Aw, it'll take a lot more than a little piece of metal to keep me down," he assures, his tone softer than ever, "Besides, I can't feel a thing now."

He gives your hand a small squeeze. You feel heat rushing in your face as you desperately hold back a grin.

"Well, just in case," you begin, getting back on your feet. You lean over and kiss his cheek, "To keep the pain away."

Mouth agape, his face turns red. You stifle a giggle, and his shock quickly turns to triumph as he gives you smirk.

"Now that you mention it, I think the bacta might be wearing off..." he teases.

You chuckle and lightly punch his shoulder. "Rest up, solider."

He laughs, leaning back in his seat with his arms behind his head. "Yes, ma'am."

[hippolotamus]

top 9 books 📚

tagged by @eddiebabygirldiaz (who I constantly pest to write a book and will add to this list if they ever do 😘) @thewolvesof1998 @cowboy-buddie @your-catfish-friend @spotsandsocks Thank you loves 💖

I can say right now that these are in the moment picks. Books are far too special to narrow down to just 9.

Anthem by Ayn Rand

A short read about a society where people have careers and partners chosen for them. Everyone is addressed in collective terms and the word I is never used. It's been a long ass time, but I legit cried the first time I read it.

1984 by George Orwell

Another one that has fascinated me since the first time I read it, way back in the dark ages of high school. Dystopian society where Big Brother is always watching. The main character is lured into going against the grain only to ultimately be punished. That's a terrible excuse for a summary but here we are.

The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris

Some satire and humor as the author details his time working as an elf during the Christmas season. If you don't wheeze and piss yourself laughing I really don't know what to tell you.

Psycho by Onley James

Book 2 of a MM series about 7 psychopath brothers. I love the series but August is my favorite.

Moth by Lily Mayne

Book 5 of a human/monster romance series. Moth is my very special baby. Look at him wrong and I'll maim you.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

jfc how do I even summarize this? IDEK... battles, romance, platonic love, soulmates. Just go read it and have yourself a good cry.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Dear gods what a fucking fabulous book. Chronicles the life of the (fictional) mysterious hollywood actress, Evelyn Hugo, with an absolutely insane twist at the end.

The Christmas Box Collection by Richard Paul Evans

Technically a trilogy but I can't separate them. This begins by telling the story of a young family who move in with an elderly widow. It then moves on to the details of who the widow was before, starting at the very beginning with how she met her husband, and the reason for the large marble angel statue on the property.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

One of my favorites from my youth. All about friendship and imagination and what happens when that gets ripped away. Again, a shit summary, but it's a fantastic read. I have absolutely considered an au about this one.

Bonus: When the Summer's Over by Anna Pollock

A m/f romance that's cute AF, written by one of my besties @walnuts-and-berries, with cover art by my beloved wife @lizzie-bennetdarcy. Minnesota farm gal meets city boy and is instantly disgusted. gasp can they overcome their differences and make it work?

no pressure tagging @stereopticons @blackandwhiteandrose @buddierights @apothecarose @spotsandsocks @shortsighted-owl @mysteriouslyyounggalaxy @jesuisici33 @lizzie-bennetdarcy and anyone else I normally tag (or don't) who wants to play 🥰

[quillyfied]

Things I’m noticing on this rewatch, which I’m hoping to take slow and ponder on but we will see how it goes, PART FIVE (obviously major Good Omens season 2 spoilers throughout, specifically for S2E5)

- Okay. Shax’s belt buckle certainly looks very snakelike, but her mannerisms are almost more lizard like to me? Very abrupt jerky movements. Straight lines.

- Okay but this whole discussion with Furfur is both hilarious and makes me wonder about the actual climate of heaven and hell post-Apocanope. Bc the idea that the actual legions of hell and hosts of heaven aren’t actually interested in fighting…yeah, seems supported by the text, actually.

- “Can I watch?” Always

- Alright the immediate way that Aziraphale is prepared to give away rare parts of his collection in order to get everyone there…unsettling? Surprising? Another drop in the bucket of suspense??

- Alright but the fact that he’s actually bothered by it is making me feel Some Kind of Way actually. Something something appears that he’s lost interest or is prepared to sacrifice his material comforts for The Greater Good, in actuality is doing his duty as a protector and guardian even if it hurts him. Don’t mind me, just need to lie down on the floor for a moment.

- Shax’s continued troubles with securing her demon army also continues to make me wonder what Beelzebub themself is playing at. If even Satan himself can’t command 10,000 killer demons into being, and would have to settle for about 70 creepy and unease-radiating layabouts…wtf??

- Unless Furfur is messing with her. For not backing him up in 1941. Entirely possible.

- FEZ. EVEN I KNOW THATS A DOCTOR WHO REFERENCE.

- Also Crowley’s goofing around with the crystal ball. Just want to bask in pure delightful silliness for a moment.

- Alright, back to Shax, who has a whole leather battle outfit? Certainly scary but all I can think is “did it take her an hour to squeeze into it?”

- Eric! Beloved Eric! And the manifold unfortunate ways his superiors dispose of him. Feels familiar and comfy, actually.

- Shax not knowing what she’s doing and being bad at winging it, Example 664

- Aziraphale persisting in French despite Justine really getting fed up with it: second clue that Aziraphale is putting this “night to remember” under more pressure than initially anticipated.

- Eric clarifying that they don’t really want to be fighting angels: lending more credence to my theory that The Big One/the Second Coming is going to fall apart due to out of touch management tbh

- I have deep curiosity about what the Christmas lights debacle is all about

- Nina! DRAG HIM.

- THE SHEER OUTRAGE OF AZIRAPHALE BEING CROWLEY’S BIT ON THE SIDE.

- Other people’s love lives always seem so much more straightforward than our own. Coupled with melancholy romantic music. And a frankly heartbreaking expression on Nina’s face. I’m so sad for her. I’m equally sad for Crowley tbh.

- Lots of use of lightning this season. Noticing that Shax’s is dual blue and red…have to go back and see what color Crowley’s is.

- Shax’s shoulder pads remind me of a dragon or a lizard too tbh

- Something too about the opening that I can’t seem to articulate clearly but strikes me: when the bridge between the two planets breaks apart after Crowley and Aziraphale’s little dance back and forth (still on the wrong sides btw), the bridge reforms after a few seconds, but sideways. And one of the bridge halves is an entirely different bridge. Foreshadowing?

- This episode’s theater feature: The Ball, by Jane Austen. With the onscreen picture being, I believe, a couple of the demons?

- Can I just say—adore the pretty rose in Crowley’s shot. Also paused at the exact right moment to catch Aziraphale’s amused and fond expression while Crowley tries to express a real concern. Love that he cares, wish he would listen.

- The complexities of being in a toxic relationship. Even knowing you’re well shot of them, the ways they break you down don’t really leave. Nina is a mirror for Aziraphale.

- I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I do truly think that Crowley spilling the beans here will have consequences in the future.

- Crowley’s rage and hurt tho. Thank you for that, David Tennant, we have been blessed beyond measure.

- Shoutout to the person in the notes of my post about the second episode who said the little hissing chime happens whenever Crowley takes off his shades in an important moment, bc I caught it this time!

- The way Jim is so childlike in his un-Gabriel state makes me wonder if angels in their natural state are just Like That—joyful, trusting, full of genuine love and care. We see it in angel Crowley, we see it in early days Aziraphale, we see it in Jim, we see it in Muriel. Which makes the Fall feel all the more harrowing in concept. If any of the angels who Fell truly understood WHY they fell, just that they were loathsome in some way and deserved what they got.

- Crowley pulling back from causing actual harm because despite his very good and logical reasonings for not wanting Gabriel there…he’s still himself. Gabriel in his right mind would be one thing. This is Jim. He’s something else entirely right now.

- The understanding of the empty house metaphor though. Breaking my heart here.

- “Where is your memory, then?” Brings to mind immediately another John Finnemore quote: “you see, that’s a very stupid question that you just happen to have gotten lucky with.” And THE MATCHBOX! Aha! The plot continues to thicken!

- OH. I missed that the “institutional problem” line was something Crowley got to hear first before going to heaven was even on the table.

- I’m sorry Jim’s adorable little nod, GET THE MAN SOME HOT CHOCCY THEN

- Okay okay—the way Michael instantly dismisses Muriel’s assessment that Crowley fed them about love and humans being weird—brings to mind the meta I cannot find now of angels post-fall just. Not asking questions. Not questioning anything at all. Even taking credit for knowing things that are blatantly incorrect. They are just as broken as the demons tbh.

- I wonder at Michael’s slow glance to the side at Uriel’s insistence on labeling Aziraphale a traitor every time. Michael not liking Uriel stepping on their toes as acting supreme archangel?

- Muriel’s subtle little eyeliner. Love it.

- Also how they know a super powerful miracle occurred at the bookshop, how everyone seems to know or suspect that’s where Gabriel is, and YET. Jimbriel hides in plain sight anyway. Because a miracle that powerful is affecting even the archangels. Also interesting to note that they know a miracle occurred but they don’t know why. I know this is known but somehow I’m just now connecting the dots fully. They can track miraculous power. They can’t know the reason until the angel who did the miracle reports. What an elegant loophole to exploit for thousands of years.

- Nobody would believe you anyway XD

- WAIT AND SEE. I cannot believe Neil wrote that in after tormenting tumblr with it for months. I have such irreversible fondness for that phrase now.

- The soundtrack being so pretty ;A;

- Also, I know it’s actually not great the way Aziraphale’s ball moves forward in stealing away free will to a degree, but moment of quiet glee for how he gussies up everyone entering the shop, too

- MRS SANDWICH. I will be committing it to memory.

- “Everything else was taken” Nina what does that MEAN

- Okay the creepy fog and Crowley’s insistence that something is wrong—we are starting on the topsy turvy carousel of the night! Stuff is getting Weird!!

- Shoutout to the magic shop owner’s spouse! A lovely color on them indeed!

- How is it that Justine is reduced to stereotypical Frenchwoman? Aziraphale. Good grief.

- Also, Aziraphale: why is Gabriel dressed like Elton John?

- Aziraphale. Aziraphale you are sounding like the guy in Sense and Sensibility who keeps trying to push the Dashwoods into dancing and enjoying themselves when they’re emotionally distraught.

- Interesting how Maggie doesn’t notice the demons at all. Or Crowley shouting at them from across the street.

- Wondering how in touch Crowley is with hell to know that these are low ranking demons and if Shax is fully aware that Furfur likely screwed her over big time.

- The warm reddish interior at odds with the eerie greenish exterior. Love that framing.

- Mrs. Sandwich finding the best and most erotic way of getting around the language block Aziraphale has put in place now (SERIOUSLY, ANGEL), deffo a highlight of the second season for me. What a delightful little scene. With horrific implications re:Aziraphale’s unwillingness to break his own fantasy of helping to realize the actual danger he’s put them all in until it’s too late.

- Tiny miracle chime when Nina grabs Maggie’s hand

- Nina and Maggie not being entirely taken in by the atmosphere Aziraphale set. Intentional? Incidental?

- I can’t hear that wet slapping noise without thinking about Monty Python.

- Aziraphale and Crowley? Failing to communicate whilst danger draws near? NAAAHHH

- (I remember reading someone’s very innocent “I hope they dance this season!” pre-s2 prediction and having the reaction of “nice thought but there’s no way. Save it for fandom.” AND HERE I AM. WITH THE EGG ON MY FACE. FRIED BY THE WATTAGE OF MICHAEL SHEEN’S SMILE.)

- Okay but the way Crowley lets himself be led out though too

- SHAX TOOK THE ELEVATOR WHILE EVERYONE ELSE TOOK THE STAIRS. I DID NOT CATCH THAT AT FIRST EITHER.

- “I’m not afraid of hard work.” MAGGIE. DELIGHTFUL PRETTY EARNEST MAGGIE.

- “I think you’re overestimating how much trouble we’re actually in.” NOPE.

- Aziraphale, in trying to help solve the tangle he’s in, has just created the perfect storm of harm for all involved. France in a frilly frock coat all over again. Only worse.

- Jim being willing to go tho TT_TT

- “You came to me. I said I would protect you. And I will.” HES. A. GUARDIAN. I. AM. CRYING.

- The fact that Shax sends Jimbriel back inside instead of trying to rip him apart is so funny. As is her attempt to spell toast XD apologies. Toste. (Throwback to Hastur and Ligur joking about toasting Crowley. Such fond memories.)

- Crowley throwing around rules he’s made up: the exact thing he would do and I’ve been deeply hoping he would do one day

- “I won’t leave you on your own.” “I know” WEEPING

- I was going to make a comment about the freaked out faces of Crowley and Aziraphale as Mr. Brown is quite possibly eaten or maimed, but I just found out one of the demons is named Skittles and I have to be joyful about that first.

- The miracles not working on Nina and Maggie!! WHY??

- “We aren’t leaving you on your own.” Maggie is brave and cares about her friends. Maggie is a mirror for Crowley.

- “But rescuing me makes him so happy” CANON. DECLARED. TEXT AND NOT JUST SUBTEXT.

- Crowley going James Bond with Muriel. ADORING IT

- The convo about tricking?? And then CROWLEY being the one to order the doors closed?? PARALLELS.

Okay. One episode left. Not many brain cells remaining. Time to grab a snack and buckle in, bc it’s about time to watch my heart get ripped out a second time.

[stormxpadme]

Whumptober 2024

No. 3 – “I warned you.“

07/29/2018

Their call to the building downtown that the Brotherhood had so cynically renamed a communication bridge was failed to answer for so long that Ororo was already busy in mind, coming up with the necessary mission preparations.

It would be messy, lossy and shatter whatever arduous restraint her team had held on to ever since their enemies had taken over one of the USA's most beloved historical metropolis locations, declaring open war on humanity that the latter still had no means to even answer to as of yet. There was a good chance that, if they would enter their jet in a minute to approach the besieged city and counter their foes' latest strike, that they would put their own signature under that blood red document of looming global destruction at last, any attempts and hopeless plans of negotiating for a peaceful solution that simply did not exist vaporized.

Ororo didn’t need to consult with the X-Men's leader first to know what the latter would have had to say to such an impulsive, highly risky move – and yet if she ever wanted the chance for such a just as tiring as beloved tradition of endless lectures from one of her oldest friends again, there was no doubt, she'd be suiting up in probably 10 minutes tops, calling whoever in this house was trained enough to face a whole city of hostiles and an impenetrable shield surrounding it, for a desperate rescue mission part of her knew perfectly well would never have been approved of if by the one person it was necessary to go on it for.

Accordingly big was the relief, fighting a hefty battle with immediately building wrath inside her soul when she'd just gotten her ass off that control room chair, the first order necessary on her lips, and suddenly startled from a flash of lightning stinging in her pupils as the main monitor right before her flashed to life, the sought connection to the New York Brotherhood base finally established, revealing the exceedingly smug expression on a very familiar blue and red scaled face.

"You got something that belongs to us, Darkholme?"

"So do you," Mystique reminded her harshly, confirming the X-Men's worst suspicions about why their leader had been taken into captivity at that damn mutant talent show he'd originally been invited to as a guest in. Well, so much for that. "Care to trade?"

"You really want to turn this into another war?" Ororo asked with numb lips, her hand a helpless, trembling fist by her side, the other - invisibly for the monitor camera - clawing down on the muscular leg of the woman sitting right next to her whom she could see even from the corner of her eyes had turned even another shade paler yet than at the live transmission from that show on TV earlier. Namely, when the abrupt stage exit of one of mutant world's most famous and the sudden silence in the mental link between said woman by her side and the X-Men's leader almost at the same moment had confirmed all mistrust and anxiety beforehand about this so-called peace offer.

"Funny how you always ask that whenever you launch an attack on us." Mystique leaned back in her chair unfazed, reaching for something outside the monitor lens on her side, upon which surveillance material from a certain bloody air strike on the other side of the world this afternoon flickered over another screen right behind the one showing her snarl. "I warned you. Loud and clear. I was even nice enough to give you a chance to delete the data you stole from us and reveal to me whatever you think you've read from it. Instead, you fuck around in our outpost in Egypt and insult my intelligence by thinking we won't even notice. Consider this your second and last ultimatum. Either you people will tell me what I want to know or I have to find out how much it takes to make that stuck up Boy Scout of yours talk."

"And what about Dazzler? You trying to host American Mutant Idol or something?" Ororo's thoughts were racing, that knot in her stomach growing when she realized there was nothing she could change about the dire situation, not right now, and not even only because Scott would never have let her hear the end of it if she started goddamn World War III over a few possible days of imprisonment of one of theirs. Especially when it was him.

"I’m pretty sure you know, one of you can’t answer that. As I said, I am not hot on intruders in my living room." For some reason, Mystique's yellow and brown eyes narrowed towards the visitor chair in the control room that was occupied with someone not even on the permanent team … A young man of whom Ororo suddenly had a pretty good idea why he had stuck around today against his usual habits of vanishing right after action.

Mystique knew damn well who had stolen this very data so important to her back then that she had just pulverized the truce between her people and the X-Men over once more an hour ago. This time, Stu, wouldn’t be able to sneak into the city unseen thanks to his mixed mutant and human genes, at least not if he didn’t want to risk the life of Mystique's two prisoners … one of whom Ororo had suspected for a while now was far closer to Peter Parker's secret son than he'd ever let on.

"Care to let us in, Parker?" she asked with whatever patience she could still come up with once the com connection had been rudely cut by her conversation partner without as much as another threat that wasn’t necessary.

They all knew in how much danger beloved friends and family members were right now, and there was a good chance that very situation could have been avoided if there wasn’t so much goddamn secrecy existing between people who'd actually been friends for decades. Addressing that was obviously her job right now as it was pretty obvious, from the way Logan's claws were only barely not ripping some keyboard to pieces and Katja next to Ororo was still stock still and dead silent, that her team members were worlds from the emotional distance necessary to think about how to free their missing loved ones as quickly as possible.

Ororo had rarely loathed this unloved role of a leading position she'd never seen herself in outside of emergencies more than tonight.

Stu promptly ducked his head and began to tug on the edge of his mask on his neck as if he suddenly had trouble breathing under the tight latex. "Mom didn’t want anyone to know. Peter and her … That was some drunk one-time thing back then. I don’t think either of them is proud of it."

"Oh, you gotta be fucking kidding me." At least Logan finally found his tongue again, stopping in his rude movement to shoo Katja off her ass finally, with his thoughts probably already halfway on the way to the hangar yet before they'd even decided if that was the direction they would turn into in a minute.

Ororo was almost glad that the unexpected news distracted Logan from that ill thought through endeavor for a second, the hint of a grin curling under his thick beard as, with something between amusement and alienation , he eyed the young man next to him from head to toe. Someone who'd long started to be part of his family but had kept a lot of secrets from him, too, obviously. "So sparkly Taylor Swift really is your mother, huh? Your dad has some weird-ass taste, Spiderhead."

"Says the guy who married Phoenix," Stu answered, absent as if his thoughts, too, were in a whole different dimension, apparently trying to digest the news of Alison's kidnapping himself, and to decide how to not make things worse, again. At least this time. Ororo guessed that could be called progress or something.

Far enough gone to not wince when a casual adamantium claw tapped his kneecap, a warning growl from Logan's lips following, Stu wasn’t though.

"You wanna keep dating my daughter, Glitter Webs?"

"Shutting up, shutting up." The boy ducked his head visibly contrite and hurried to the other side of the room to silently wait for instructions.

"Where do you think you're going, Logan?"

Only when her teammate turned toward the door again, patting down his shirt for a cigar or a drink or both in a well-oiled pre mission routine, Ororo had to raise her voice a little, reaching out to her side once again when she saw Katja wince next to her, a firm, warning grip around a slender elbow making sure she wouldn’t have to stop two people at once from doing something immensely stupid.

"Let's just say I kinda stopped caring for taking orders from terrorists, Windrider."

Hardly even taking the warning nuance in her tone seriously, Logan only stopped with an unnerved look back over his shoulder when a strong gust of wind around his fist stopped his zippo from lighting his cigar. "Really?"

"I don't care what you care for. This isn’t about you."

A routine gesture back to the keyboard behind Ororo sufficed to seal the electronic door locks before her impulsive teammate could just storm off with a dismissive snort, an unimpressed brow wandering up her forehead when the well-known snikt sound of Logan's wavering self-restraint sounded through the control center next.

"What, want to try cut your way out? Be my guest. Thinking about it, that electrocution might be a good warm up for whatever you think you'll be doing once you stand outside the Field, trying to get in without anyone noticing, getting the people you're trying to save killed right before the eyes of their loved ones."

"I'll think of something when we get there," Logan growled, not retreating his claws even for an inch …

At least not until one of the people they were talking over here as if they weren’t in the room suddenly rose, and Ororo saw Logan falling silent all voluntarily in a way it hadn’t often happened since she knew him.

"You're not gonna do shit, Claws."

Ororo couldn’t shake a certain shiver creeping down her spine herself, and contrary to her darkest fears, it wasn’t anxiety over having to try to hurt a friend to protect them and their captive husband from her own temper, or a hint of worry about possible destruction from Katja's established and new-found powers raining down on this house in a bout of loss of control as it hadn’t happened for years.

Indeed, thinking about it, Ororo hadn’t even seen up the status signal from one of the conductors on the roof flashing red even once, ever since they'd had to watch on TV as one of their own had once more fallen into the hands of the enemy. Not a hint of a tremor was in Katja's hand when she used her wrist communicator to call her daughter to the IT center, cool and undisputable determination in the few syllables aimed Stu's way that commanded him to call his father on the phone, without Ororo having given Katja as much as temporary control in a crisis she was actually forbidden from taking a crucial part in for being compromised alone.

In fact, Ororo didn’t think she'd ever seen anyone less emotionally compromised who had to fear for their husband's life. Maybe this was a kind of control that years of having your emotions connected to destructive weather phenomenon earned you.

What she'd mistaken for ice-cold shock a minute ago was the crystal clear calculation of someone who'd been robbed off control far too often in her life and was no longer willing to stand and watch as it happened all over … either to her or to the people closest to her.

Ororo had rarely been prouder of her former pupil.

With the same dejected but composed calmness, Katja nodded Saskia close who must have been waiting right behind the door as so often, entering only a second later, and motioned for Stu to mirror the video call with his father to one of the monitors in the wall that they could all see from where they stood.

"It's my family, and Stu's, who has to make the choice of how to save our people. Anyone's got a problem with that, you're welcome to file your complaint with our leader if we happen to get him back alive."

Even the gentle touch on her daughter's hand when a visibly upset Saskia next to her trembled at this sadly very possible reality that this exactly wouldn’t be the case, came without looking, without a second of distraction from a situation that allowed no delay, not even for comfort.

Only the energy that maybe only the rage of heaven could give.

"Until then, I suggest anyone who doesn’t want to get fried by accident get the fuck out of my way."

"You know you're pretty hot when you're pissed, Kitten," Logan grunted after a second of stunned silence in the room, with a lopsided grin and a very appreciative eye-roll his teammate's way, finally lighting his cigar before leaning back against one of the monitor towers, at least no longer looking like he'd just burst through the door by force if necessary.

"Any more cavemen commentary?" a voice from said secure new video com line to New York above their heads asked dryly. "Otherwise, if the weather-witches in the room don’t mind, I have a few specifications from the city defenses for you guys that might help getting through the Field without anyone having to electrocute their balls off in the process."

Ororo signaled a visibly mortified Stu, burying his masked face in his hands with a suffering groan, with a soothing gesture that it was alright, that in a house living with a amnesic feral with the world's worst manners, there was no need to apologize for a slightly rude-leaning parent, and then turned her attention to the latest crisis.

*******************************************************************************

@whumptober | @whumptober-archive

[liminalmemories21]

Top 9 Books

tagged by @jesuisici33

Okay, let's do a retrospective here - childhood through current.

1 - Anne of Green Gables, LM Montgomery Anne my beloved.

2 - Alanna series, Tamora Pierce Team George all the way - also possibly my introduction to the genre of girl dresses up like a boy to do fun things and save the world. Also, not for nothing but Alanna has relationships with three different men in the series and does not get slut shamed for it, which for a bunch of books I read in like middle school is pretty cool.

3 - Dark is Rising, Susan Cooper Will/Bran might have been my first ship before I even knew what I was doing. Also they are fantastic fantasy - and for the love of God do not ever watch the travesty of a movie.

4- Lord Peter Wimsey, Dorothy L Sayers I'm not picking just one - but I guess if I had to pick I'd pick the four with Harriet Vane. I met Peter Wimsey in high school, and basically he's been my benchmark for men ever since.

5 - Little Thieves, Margaret Owen Retelling of the Goose Girl from the perspective of the Goose Girl. Trauma and recovery and nuance. Also, a heist.

6 - Red White & Royal Blue, Casey McQuiston I read this when it came out and literally stopped in the middle of my commute to text my roommate 'they're fighting in a closet!'. Also, first book I managed to reread all the way through about four months into the pandemic. Still a comfort read.

7 - Raven Cycle, Maggie Stiefvater I have read and listened to these book so many times, I can't even tell you. (cheating but also Scorpio Races)

8 - Barbed Wire Heart, Tess Sharpe I love everything she writes (and she narrates her own audiobooks and it's cool to hear her voice do them) - If you ever watched Justified, this is kind of like an exploration of someone like Mags Bennett - morally grey but on the side of right.

9 - Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison Intimate fantasy about learning how to be emperor, and learning how to be the kind of emperor you want to be when you weren't ever supposed to be emperor. And yes, there are lots of stories like this - but this one doesn't come with an epic quest, or a big battle, it's just the slow battles of politics and council meetings (and they build a really cool bridge).

okay, tagging @wtfuckevenknows, and @redshirt2, and @irispurpurea in return.

[nerdyenby]

Pink time :D I’m watching Grian

Pregame

Instantly losing my mind /pos

The arm wiggle looks like his mouth opening lol

“This music is relatively annoying isn’t it?” I love Grian so much you guys

MCC Grian is a mess and I love that for him

I am so excited for this team, you guys don’t understand

Bingo But Fast

“Wait, this is real” Jojo 😭

Jojo is so confused lol, it’s okay queen you got this

I’m already confused on who I’m watching, I’ve watched both Jojo and Shelby’s streams the past couple weeks lol

The way none of them noticed the elytra

WHY IS IT ACE RACE MUSIC??!!?! IM STRESSED!! I didn’t even realize the first time round lol

Jojo just saying fuck under her breath repeatedly when half the team is pg is so silly of her

They’re all kinda in their own heads but that’ll get better as they find their flow

Grian sassing chat AS HE SHOULD

“How long til bingo again?” Life really is just a period of waiting between rounds of bingo, Lizzie’s right

“I wouldn’t count on anything being normal” Real and true Shelby

Battle Box

“You should crouch down so I can get on one shoulder, Lizzie can get on the other shoulder, then Shelby can jump on your back and you can just carry us, yeah?” So true Grian

“What if we die before that happens? Well, then we’d be dead” Lizzie my beloved

Lizzie catching that picks are better than the carrots is such a good call

Aw Lizzie just got absolutely mobbed

Eat the carrot, let the impulsive thoughts win

“I think people are targeting me” “I also suffer from success”

Comms are a bit sloppy but I believe

“A win is a win” Lizzie is so real today

MCC itself has a grudge against Lizzie, this is so sad

Hole in the Wall

“I’m ready to start playing better” You got this Jojo!!

A bit off topic but I think the MCC team did a phenomenal job balancing how much players knew before the event and how much was a surprise, there’s enough of both that it’s chaotic without being overly confusing and I think the did a great job

Bill Wurtz fan club over here :))

“I just got flung and I’m not sure I deserved it” snarky Grian is best Grian

“When you said ‘off the edge’ I took that literally” Lizzie my beloved <333

Jojo’s calls are ELITE

Survival Games

I was just vibing tbh

Oh my gosh that was so intense when the border stopped one block away

Lizzie hiding in the corner and winning, queen moves only

“I think you just got scuffed” so true Grian

“I can’t tell what’s intentionally scuffed or just wasn’t thought about” that’s the magic of MCC scuffed

If you don’t know, Grian and his community have been funding a school in Ghana during every event he’s participated in and it’s absolutely incredible, go check it out and donate if you’re able :))

TGTTOSAWAF

None of them actually taking a break is so them

Lizzie going to check in on Joel is so sweet

Jojo apolozing to Ranboo <3

Literally what killed Grian lol

Sands of Time

Sand daddy Shelby <333

Jojo taking charge AS SHE SHOULD!!!

The absolute PANIC of the false chimes 😭

“I’m never going down a tunnel ever again” Lizzie 😂

Grian mvp :))

The countdown starting and Shelby just saying “ignore that” is the level of confidence I need in my life

I didn’t even see the wardens the first time round, that’s terrifying

Wait when did the get green vault? Like I heard Lizzie found the key but I just didn’t notice them actually unlocking it lol

Big Sales at Build Mart

Shelby saying fuck with her entire chest is everything actually

Remember when she was a regular on a Disney show? Now she’s dropping f-bombs on pg streams, and I love that for her

“Where’s- Oreo??” Real

It IS in color Grian 😭

They popped off :))

Skyblockle

None of them even remembering skyblockle is so funny actually, skybattle is just infinitely better and more memorable

Grian just crying when Shelby says to bridge with slabs

“I’d rather poo in my hands and clap” GRIAN

“Anyone else just wanna jump off” Lizzie no

Yeah just build a house actually, you got time lol

Grian crafting a fishing rod, you got this king

He did not, in fact, got this

Shelby being so proud of/excited for Oli is everything

He DID crash and burn, I didn’t even realize 😂

Dodgebolt

Everyone’s still confused, just as it should be in MCC Scuffed

Oh yeah, it would be the first 1v4!!

“That’s my man” Lizzie and Joel are everything

Joel not getting the 1v4 and Lizzie’s “I still love him” “That’s good because if that did it for ya”

A win for the empires team is a win for all empires peeps, so true

The chicken infection was to torment Grian specifically, actually

[mirror-to-the-past]

Even MORE KH3 Assorted Thoughts- because this game is giving so much, for real:

San Fransokyo is absolutely sick and I've been bouncing around the skyscrapers while jamming to the Spiderverse OST. As long as Flowmotion and Shotlock exists, KH as a franchise has gotta give me more urban settings to zip around in.

The cutscene where Sora/Roxas kind of intertwine with their experiences on top of the Golden Gate Bridge. 😭"And when you're not strong enough, he'll make up the difference." Oogh, Roxas being likened to a brother figure for Sora is painful and delicious. I like the inclusion of Hayner, Pence, and Olette through Roxas' eyes. If he had looked to his other side and seen Axel, and a glimpse of Xion, that would've really completed the scene. All the people Roxas had watched the sunset with...

Was a bit confused by the Big Hero 6 plot, not gonna lie. Like, I thought our new Org. member was the Riku Replica, but then this guy says he's KH1 Riku that gave up his body in order to time travel. That and, as I see later, the Riku Replica was just hanging out with Riku in his final moments, so... I dunno, that plotline is just all sorts of fishy. In an attempt to scrutinize here the plot's going with this... I'm unsure if it's really KH1 Riku as he claims he is, especially since Maleficent dropped a major hint with the "though I'm not sure I could tell you from when," Which, given her familiarity with KH1 Riku, tells me that me that we're supposed to be questioning the validity of the Org. Riku's claims.

RIKU'S NEW KEYBLADE LOOKS LIKE A MF CAR KEY HAHA.

Oh. My. God? The World of Darkness scene, guys. So much. It looks like Sora was able to have his Power of Waking activate in order to save Riku (since he used Eraqus' Keyblade and not a Keyblade of Darkness to dive in, the only possibility left as to how that was possible would be using his Power of Waking, so...). 😭 Damn, this is what the Disney world build up was there for, guys. Foreshadowing of power of love, my beloved. Also very sweet/funny how Riku had no way of knowing about Sora rushing to save him, so he's just in the thick of battle, desperate, and mumbling "Sora..." under his breath to keep himself going. Godspeed, champ. 🫡 Then he wonders if he somehow summoned him as Sora proceeds to jump right in for a certified mind blown moment.

Riku's slow-mo POV of Sora splashing in was hilarious. Boy looked like this ->😳

How is Reality Shift Keyblade existing outside of the Sleeping Worlds? Question mark?? So sick that they brought it back but uhm? So many questions with these World of Darkness cutscenes... But wow, goddamn.

The little smile Sora turns around to give Riku after parrying off Aqua's attack. My goodness... so sweet. Not to mention the musical side of the scene, with how Sora's theme melded beautifully into Dearly Beloved when he and Riku used their Keyblade. Man... this game really feels a bit like Sora's answer to Riku's journey in DDD. They've got each other's backs, man!

Sora reaching in to grab Aqua... and the group hug afterwards... Aqua's got to be so on edge, now, after all this. If only Keyblade wielders could get complementary therapy.

Also big-sis Aqua cradling Ventus' sleeping face. 🥹

Also, also Aqua unlocking Castle Oblivion looked so cool.

Vanitas crashing the party was hilarious, considering how hard the boy must have been hustling to get there. "I have been falling through doors for THIRTY MINUTES!"

Ventus flashing between seeing Vanitas in Sora's face was interesting. Definitely a readjustment and a half. Really excited to see dynamic between Ventus and the Destiny trio. Y'know, how he perceives them due to living life through Sora's eyes in a long dream of his own. Love how he saw the Dream Eaters and thought they were adorable...

Aqua got to have a "you got so big" moment with Sora and Kairi and I just find that adorable. I expect one with Terra to Riku once we get him un-possessed.

Btw, everything with Axel/Lea (we love a multiple name king) and Kairi has been driving me crazy this game. I love them. The redheads who get left behind, the stable anchor for their groups who go through the pain of abandonment and the guilt of helplessness. Obviously, they're different people and it'd be nice to hear more of each of their own perspectives, but KH is a series of parallels, and I think that most things haunting Axel/Lea haunt Kairi as well.

...In a similar vein, I was just as gutted by and perceive the wonderful sunset scene between Sora and Kairi to be Kairi's own "You just keep running, but I'll always be there to bring you back," equivalent moment. But since it's Kairi, and not Axel, she's melancholic in her subtle pleading to Sora. "I just want to be a part of your life no matter what. That's all." She verbally minimizes herself and her presence in Sora's life because of the growing distance between them, and that's heartbreaking, dude. Still, I'm happy that Sora agreed to have a Paopu Fruit with her to give her some level of affirmation, even if he looked a little confused/unsure at first. She needs that semblance of stability before the shit goes down so much right now, and I wonder if he realized that to some degree... Kairi, my poor child. I hope she realizes how important she is, later on.

Also, I'll just say it here, because this is just me spitballing but it's on topic. I get the feeling this scene might have been foreshadowed by the Hundred Acre Woods story (and why was that world so SHORT, AAA-). I had my suspicions back in KH2 due to the amnesia subplot, and now feel pretty confident that the Hundred Acre Woods are meant to connect to Sora's perception of "home/childhood" and therefore his perception of Kairi as well. While ecstatic to see Pooh and gang in KH1 and KH2, here he was placating and ready to leave in KH3 (which was hilarious contrast to myself, btw, because I was more like "LFG" 😂). I thought it was perhaps just strange writing at first, but then the game goes out and says it when Sora considers how he feels his connection to everyone is weaker, and he's not sure why. And this is after Pooh is all "Welcome home," (KH2 ending, anyone) and worries about "forgetting [Sora] away" (Sora's absence making Pooh lose his place in his life, also alluding to KH2, possibly). Of course Sora doesn't like that and panics, because similarly to how Kairi struggles with change of character and circumstance, Sora struggles with the idea of relationships changing or growing apart- he's very stubborn about it. So, I appreciate Merlin saying the thing about relationships merely changing form, and that it's not the end of the world. Anyway, all of this is making me very morose, because it makes me think of all of those people you grew up with that you don't talk to much anymore but still think of fondly and would love to hear from them again, as you remember them in your mind's eye.

*shakes them* SORA. KAIRI. TALK TO EACH OTHER. SORA, LET KAIRI BE AT PEACE, HER SAD-ASS SOCIAL MEDIA POST THING ON THE LOADING SCREEN IS BUMMING ME OUT. Anyway, this is why I'm happy that Kairi is making friends with Axel/Lea, so she can have other people in her life that won't necessarily go galavanting into the universe and leave her behind at a moment's notice (/hj, no Sora hate, for real, just look at my blog, he's my favorite 'lil guy along with Roxas).

Uh, so... now I'm putting off progressing the story by getting chests and finding lucky emblems, lol. Right now, all my dudes are happy and taking a little break before they confront the baddies, and I'm slightly nervous to see if the game also delivers on the foreshadowing of the Disney Worlds also having a lot of dying in them. 😬 Obviously whatever happens will get fixed with the power of love and whatnot, but I don't exactly want the gang to go through more suffering than they've got to, lmao. And GIVE ME ROXAS AND XION ALREADY.

[rebeccalouisaferguson]

Editor’s note: The following interview was conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike began on July 14, 2023.]

Rebecca Ferguson is ready for a break. She’s finished her A.D.R. (additional dialogue) on “Dune: Part Two,” the promotion chores on “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One” (her third in the series), and is on her way home to hang with her 16-year-old son and still-friendly first husband in Sweden.

She was prepared to go back to England’s Hoddesdon Studios to shoot the second season of “Silo,” the most popular series on AppleTV+, returning her to the lead role of Sheriff. Not necessary, as the day after we spoke, July 13, SAG-AFTRA announced they were going on strike. “The percentage of people fortunate enough to have a good life as actors have to fight for the other percentage,” she said on the phone.

The 39-year-old actress, who grew up in Stockholm, attended a bilingual English school, and trained as a dancer, has steadily built herself into a major star. Who else goes toe-to-toe with Tom Cruise and returns to do it again, twice, without simply being a romantic appendage? It makes perfect sense that her best friend on the set of “Dune” was Charlotte Rampling. “She’s absolutely exquisite,” she said. “I look up to and admire her ridiculously.”

...

The actress rejects the notion of ever “going up against” Tom Cruise, who wanted her for Ilsa after seeing her in the “War of the Roses” mini-series “The White Queen.” “It’s not a battle,” she said. “You go in with the mission of trying to survive. It is written by the incredible Christopher McQuarrie, and Tom is part of that journey. They want phenomenal characters. It merged beautifully, the character [Ilsa] with me: the time, the place, the relationship with Tom all worked with well. The trajectory of this character is so complex and interesting to work with. I asked for a continuation. The story writes itself.”

The actress does not even try to keep up with Cruise. For one thing, she doesn’t perform all her own stunts. If she has to fall out of a speeding car, she leaves that to her beloved stunt double Lucy Cork.

Ferguson did, however, handle the climactic “Dead Reckoning” fight on the bridge herself, she said. “I tend to be running far behind, but I try. Tom is the movie. He represents ‘Mission,’ everything that’s good, and thankfully nothing bad has come from it. You are offered a palette of knowledge: you learn it and do it and embrace it. You also can choose to say ‘no.’ They will find a solution around it, you’re never forced to do it.”

She gamely tried to master riding a motorcycle, and had to earn a license. “You have to learn quickly,” she said. “I had to be ready to shoot soon. It was a 760 Triumph, a big motorbike. I am very strong, but being on one of these on a road in England going fast — the trainer said I was going too slow. ‘I need to get off; it’s not safe. I don’t trust myself.’ No worries! They had other options: Jennie [Tinmouth], the best motorcycle bike rider in the world.”

This “Mission: Impossible” installment boasts more women than usual including Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Pom Klementieff, and Hayley Atwell. “‘Mission’ is probably the one franchise that knows how to write storylines for women,” said Ferguson, who takes the scripts as they come. “They break things down; there’s not a lot of going into detail about what happened. You do not talk about it. There’s always reasons why arcs go a certain way,” she said. I control my own destiny [as Ilsa], there are reasons why things happen.” (A very compelling notation, given what happens to Ilsa in the latest film.)

“Silo” has turned out to be the happiest experience of Ferguson’s career, partly because she is an executive producer, but mostly, she said, because showrunner-creator Graham Yost (“Speed”) runs a non-hierarchical set. “I don’t like it when people are more important than others,” she said. “A happy set becomes creative and a safe set becomes a safe space.”

.....

What’s most important with each character for Ferguson, besides building up the right physique, is to “create a silhouette,” she said. “Then you’ve nailed a memorable figure, say, Cruella de Vil, through movement.” Working with movement coach Alexandra Reynolds (“The Theory of Everything”) she expressed the trauma Juliette stores in her body. “She carries a lot of internal grief and internally, and is socially uncomfortable, and is walking away when people touch her. She’s tactile with her own tools and her own world,” Ferguson said. “I often take on powerful characters and portray regal princesses and countesses and concubines, so my agenda was to completely break down and find in myself the capacity to do something else with Juliette.”

At first when the mechanic is named sheriff, she wants to solve the mystery of her lover’s death. “I find Juliette selfish in the beginning, she’s a broken heroine who gradually realizes there are things bigger than herself,” she said. “I love where we are going to in Season 2. She definitely learns new tricks and things get very wet.”

Next up: “Dune: Part Two” (November 3, Warner Bros.) is in the hands of the editors and composer Hans Zimmer. Assuming the strikes are resolved by October, Ferguson will be back on the promo trail.

Returning to Lady Jessica offered a character in transition. “She starts as a powerful, knowledgeable, magical mother and protector on a quest and a journey to make Paul into the leader,” she said. “She’s on a path to see the creation she has made and how is this new Jessica in relation to what her son has become? He’s more forceful, what does she do? She’s a significantly important person to the Fremen.”

[azerothtravel]

Over the expacs, what’s been your favourite raid or dungeon bosses?

Hey, Anon! Sorry this took so long, but I wanted to give this some real thought. So I've never been much of a raider. I just didn't find it too exciting to treat WoW like a part-time job. I dabbled in Vanilla, but never did anything after Zul'Gurub. There was a bit in late BC when my small guild and another one joined forces to run Karazhan for awhile (I don't know that we ever got as farther than chess). But it wasn't til the introduced LFR that I ever saw raids while they were new with any real frequency (I know, I am a filthy casual). My endgame has usually been more PvP and alts. But! That leaves a zillion dungeons and the raid experiences I have had so let's see…

When I think of dungeons in Vanilla, I think of Blackrock Spire. I have a great fondness for General Drakkisath in UBRS, for having someone kite him all over the place. And the Beast! Taking the punt from the Beast. Eventually getting the Chromatic Carapace and starting down that road. Those were really fun times. But also Bal'nazaar in Strat, which was a really fun surprise and also, uh, something I actually have a screenshot of. :)

In BC, it's all about the Blackheart the Inciter fight in Shadow Labyrinth. "Slaughter yourselves for my amusement!" That was a wacky one, especially the first time you saw it. It was also cool, as a non-raider, to get to fight Kaelthas in Magister's Terrace. But also, in Auchenai Crypts, Shirrak the Dead Watcher. The first time you came to that bridge and saw that guy, that was memorable.

Wrath is really hard to pin down. I'm actually really partial to Utgarde Keep. But it kinda has to be the Lich King chasing you out of Halls of Reflection. That was such a tense encounter. Unsurprisingly, I don't have any screenshots. But, looking through my screenshots, I just found out we did Naxxramus in 2009! I have no memory of this!

Who knew?? I bet the same friend who made us an alliance with a bigger guild to do Kara was behind this, but I completely forgot about it.

First boss that comes to mind in Cataclysm is in the Stonecore, your friend and mine, Ozruk. Like many of you, I am certain, the first time he yelled "Break yourselves upon my body!" my group cracked up laughing. I think we might have even wiped from laughing too hard. He's got a great song, too! But for Cata, it has to be Deathwing. The fight on his back is probably the most memorable instance fight in the expansion, for good or ill.

Mists actually has a whole lot of my favorite dungeon and raid bosses. Stormstout Brewery was pretty unique, with the Ook Ook fight being pretty great. I liked the Sha of Fear fight, with the teleporting to different platforms and all. The Paragons in Siege of Orgrimmar are memorable. I did so much for those bastards. Having to fight them all was mean. I think the Thunder King raid is one of the best raids of all time, top to bottom, and the Thunder King himself was a really cool fight.

Warlords is actually harder to remember. Nitrogg Thundertower on the Grimrail Depot train was really cool. I remember hating basically every minute of the Everbloom... Ner'zhul in Shadowmoon Burial Grounds had good atmosphere. I enjoyed Highmaul, but did not like that final raid at all, nor the remake of my beloved UBRS. Oh, High Sage Vyrix, that was a cool fight. Man. That Archimonde fight. I swear, it took like 15 tries in LFR. I never went back after we finally won.

I've expressed my complicated feelings about Legion before, but it had some fun dungeons. The fight in the dark in Vault of the Wardens was really cool. Maw of Souls' fight with Freyja was cool, tearing up the back of that boat. But not a whole lost stands out to me, dungeon & raid wise.

BfA. I liked the Ghuun fight. The Azshara fight, and also the swimming one with the big eel. That whole final raid was pretty interesting, with a good final battle. Some cool things in there. But the best was Lord and Lady Waycrest in Waycrest Manor, with the big pipe organ. That was cool.

In Shadowlands, I liked almost everything in the first raid. Some really fun things in there, and Denathrius especially. The Tarragrue fight in the 2nd raid was really fun with the anima powers. And the Eye of The Jailer fight making you grapple across that gap was fun.

I have weirdly very few memories of Dragonflight dungeons & raids, apart from fighting Fyrakk over and over trying to get that damn axe. My RNG is legendarily bad. 11 tries and nothing yet. I don't think I played dungeons too much after the first couple of months, and didn't get too into the first 2 raids. Think I did them once each. Honestly, Dragonflight has found me playing alts harder than ever, so between that and PVP, I've done a lot fewer instances. But I do like that they incorporated dragonriding into one dungeon and the 2nd to last fight in Amirdrassil.

And that is my long, long answer. I'm sure I'll remember something I should've mentioned as soon as I hit post. Thanks for the ask!

[lostwithspace]

@galranrepard

Danika was smart enough not to show off her weapon among the bridge. She concealed it when necessary. Only taking it out when among fellow blade members. "I can see that. Must be nice to not have to worry about getting caught here. Seems you make yourself at home wherever you go, hmm? No having to be on the fringe of getting caught aboard a large galra cruiser much less one that's a battle cruiser at that..." Danika sighed putting her weapon away as she was offered a golden apple drink. The fellow blade gladly sat down as she overhead Rio's conversation. "I wouldn't come here unless our leader advised to. Kolivan knows perfectly well who is capable of doing the mission...and since you are pretty good at making this vessel carry off-duty soldiers for a relaxing R&R it could give us a chance to finally bring the Galra Empire down. Especially now since Zarkon is on his death-bed and Haggar is making Lotor come back...there's no doubt that the Galra Empire will fall eventually, but with her at the helm and her druids...it is taking every once and viable resources to get one step ahead." The blue, red, and white galra had heard of those, like Thace, that were not so fortunate to escape the druids. Rumors in fact weren't even close to what her beloved blade brother. He was a hero among the universe for helping Voltron to escape the vile clutches of the central station where Zarkon kept a tight reign on the Galra Empire. "Good. I'm glad you understand though I think you underestimate yourself as a worthy part of the Blade of Marmora. Have some pride and confidence in yourself, Rio. After all...you are the Captain around here, hmm?" Danika reached over to reassure her fellow blade brother before taking a long swig of her drink. It was going to take all of her concentration to relay the whole mission to the captain of the Moth. She held out her data pad and gave it to Rio to look over. "Nothing that you can't handle. Just spying on this crew here while they are off-duty. If you get any vital information send that to me and I'll report back to the base. I will unfortunately have to stick with the commander in order to not get caught, but if I happen to get a break from him for a moment.. I'd like to catch up a bit if that's not a trouble of course." She didn't like fraternizing with the enemy but it was the only way to get intel, but part of her wanted to also hang out with her fellow blade member. He sounded like a lot of fun to be around with, and Danika could use any excuse or time away if only momentarily.

"It's its own beast living here at times, but sometimes you don't have an option and you make the best of it. There a different fringe you find yourself on."

"I-" Rio started to respond, but as the various names and well known officials started to be sent out, he went a little dumbstruck. He snapped out of it when Danika touched him in reassurance, and he slightly flinched, but didn't pull away. He took the pad and started to scroll through it, catching snippets of the information as it streamed pass his eyes.

"Well, a Captain, but a captain of one, plus whatever I can salvage back together." He tried to deflect the compliment offhandedly, but his voice wasn't in it, shaking off the mental stun.

He knew that their movements were tracked and probably other members of the Blades worked to directly or indirectly work against those as big in the Empire as Haggar or, well, the Empire itself as Zarkon. The former soldier just never really expected to having access or working on that level. And not just big names on one side of the conflict either...

"That should be no problem with listening in. Between the universal constant of people willing to talk about anything to a bartender, and a few of the listening devices I have. I'll need to set up a scanning script for key words or phrases so I can have the recordings highlighted without spending all my off time scanning-

"Ah, ahem, sorry, mind already working on the problem, I'm sure I'll get something." Rio pulled a wire from his padd and plugged it into Danika's, and started the data transfer.

"Um... if you feel it's safe to, you can come by. There's a rotation of when I'm open, I think it's set for after every three work rotations, I have two off and empty of any of the cruiser's crew. If you can't get to when you're off, or there's too many people, there's a hatch both above here and down below, I can show you, that bypasses the public general areas. It's been a while since I've had someone up here to socialize with, even more since another Blade member." He tried to give a reassuring smile.

It didn't last too long as he scratched the back of his neck and asked hesitantly. "So... when you say Kolivan knows; does that mean you actually know of him, or just that you heard that passed along?"

[claire-starsword]

The Guardiana Magic School Run - Part 6

Manarina time. As you might have heard, this is a weird place.

The weirdness includes having a hidden Demibuster on its walls. I'm fairly sure there are no more dark dwarves to fight, and this sword is already outclassed by the Middle Sword. Why is it here.

It can be sold for money I guess, but even that has a catch. Special items like this go to the deals section when sold, to make sure you don't lose them forever. I'm unsure if filling the deals section this way messes with the generation of random new deals. So I'm a bit afraid to do it, but on the other hand the deals section hasn't done much for us lately. We shall see. Right now we have more important things to do.

New party member.

Our beloved ice queen sadly starts out as like, a lesser Tao, and not just because of the level difference. She has less HP overall, the squishiest of defenses, and will take longer to learn AoE spells, because she gets Freeze before Blaze level 2. Freeze will be a great spell to have later on due to greater damage and range, but this and the next chapter are like, chock full of undead enemies immune to it, so yeah, not great!

The Steel Rings have always had her name on it, so Tao gives two to her, and now they both share a 7 in defense. Anri then swaps weapons with Khris, ensuring I won't have to spend money on a Power Staff, because Anri does not need one, I do NOT want this woman in the front lines ever.

We then get a very important egg, say hi to Arthur in the laundromat, and briefly return to Rindo to buy Medical Herbs for Anri, as Manarina has no shop. Hilariously I'm exactly 1 coin short of buying more than two herbs. Anri also gets the Antidote I've found last chapter, even though I generally feel healing is more useful.

I'm not very worried for this battle anyway, so I'd say preparations are complete. We head to the Cavern of Darkness.

The clear bonus is just money and I'm not too concerned about it.

We start greeted by two zombies, and compared to the four zombies of last time I don't care. Poison can be an annoyance but thankfully this time Lowe can reach people to heal them. And the zombies are so slow basically everyone can get into position before they move. And by position I mean Gong and Max will be tanking everything as usual.

Except they won't, the zombies don't even get the chance to act as the mages finish them off. Very nice for Anri to get the exp, and Tao also levels up, both her and Gong are a level above Max actually, I didn't notice that. She learns the Sleep spell, which I don't think I've ever used in any game in the series, but this is the magic school run so maybe we'll show it o- haha i'm kidding who cares use fireball and only fireball

Turn 3 opens up to a little more excitement, I though enemies would stick to blocking the bridge but one Sniper got spicy, Max remains irresistible I guess. Beyond the bridge there's like, five bats and you know that can get annoying, especially since they can cross through the water. My main concern as usual is the mage with its big damage, but Snipers also have a chance of picking my squishy people from afar so I want them gone as well.

Gong continues to massacre.

The Power Staff debuts amazingly, I even regret sending Tao after this guy first because this would have been a one hit kill.

Max counter kills the first bat that goes for him, because I guess he's still pissed off at the last battle. Sadly he doesn't do that for the second one, so we're still stuck on the bridge in annoying ways. The zombie also poisons him, because this man can't take a break.

Yeah he's not happy.

Turn 5. I was too afraid to send anyone ahead after Gong and Max killed the zombie blocking the bridge but Max countered the bat in front of him so we can move on now. He's also no longer poisoned thanks to Lowe, though he does need some healing.

Khris gets to him and earns a great level up for her troubles. Lowe is the only healer missing Heal 2 at this point. It's worth mentioning that Heal 2 is even more useful here than in the mega drive, as it heals 20 HP as opposed to 15, and has the same range as Heal 3. Kind of an exaggerated buff, honestly.

Anyway, the bats get wiped out without much problem, mostly by Tao, with Anri getting a kill in which is nice. Their spells cannot be dodged so they're the best to deal with these pests. We now head to the worst part of the battle.

These three mages can kill any force member at this point if they all focus on the same target. Even just two Blazes can be deadly. Of course, they're still easy to kill and hardly move, so it's matter of timing the approach to kill at least two before they act.

Gong and Max manage it just fine in the next turn. Since we're nearing the end, I'm start spamming heal spells for exp, though some real healing will need to be done too as one mage survived. Lowe in particular has tons of MP and the Skeleton doesn't move, so I'm still confident.

...never mind the Skeleton does move. And it's beefy enough to finally do more than one damage to Max, even if still not concerning.

Max also takes less than half of its HP, something that hasn't happened in a while. See the game is not a complete cakewalk to the magic school, we're just still pretty good. Also, Max has leveled up twice in this battle but got only one or two stats raised up, so it really seems like his godly level ups are a thing for the beginning only.

Also, the Skeleton stats claim it has no magic resistance, but Blaze 1 did only 6 damage which I find a bit weird. Still, we have two mages so it was enough to end this, and luckily Anri is the one to reap the exp and her first level up.

No HP, no defense, lots of magic, it's a very squishy wizard level up for sure.

Fairly sure I had turns to spare, at least this time I did expect the battle to be easy.

Besides the plot mandated Orb of Light, this cavern has lots of other loot. There's a spare Power Staff, which I can give to Tao in case of emergency I guess, a Voodoo Staff which is not as good and has the issue of being special enough to go to deals when sold, guess for now Anri can have for emergencies too, a Medical Herb, nicely filling Anri's final item slot, and more importantly, the Power Ring. This thing has someone's name written all over it.

Arthur has finished his job and can join us now! He's uh, not off to a great start. His HP is on par with Anri's (derogatory), his defense is around the ring wearing spell casters here, not ideal for a melee fighter, and his attack is lower than the priests, though that might say more about the priests than anything. Anyway, the next battle is full of new stronger enemies and a boss with an overpowered spell, and I have seen this man die as his very first action multiple times, so while it's fun to still get to play a knight in this kind of run, I'm not thrilled for this beginning.

We can try to make it better though. Let's head back to Rindo. And get immediately side tracked by the deals section.

The Zombie Charmer is an even stronger staff than our current ones, with extra damage to undead enemies. It was likely made for the Shade Abbey battle but still useful to deal with the plentiful of skeletons in Chapter 3. However, I'm fairly sure it is the clear bonus of the next battle, so we don't necessarily have to spend this much money to have it. Even if it would be very rad to have two.

It's a tough decision between it and the Charm Rings, but given that I'm worried for the next battle, and the rings can be useful for the whole rest of the run and are limited to this chapter, I'm think I'm going for them. The deal will still remain here for Chapter 3 if I need it.

Back to Arthur, I buy him a Spear to give him range, and hope the Power Ring compensates for the drop in attack. It actually does leave him with 18 attack which is 1 more than he started, so it should be fine. Now I just need this man to never be touched by an enemy in his whole life.

I then buy a couple Medical Herbs for him as usual, and a Charm Ring for Max. Max now has 23 HP and 32% magic res, which I hope means something against the Marionette. I considered giving it to Lowe since he has the Doll Hater, but he has little defense and that thing packs a punch physically as well, so do the minor Mishaela minions as well. The circus battle sucks. I hate relying only on Max for everything, but he feels like the only guy with enough HP for the magic resistance to matter.

That's all preparation I can do. Next update we find out who lives or dies.

Losses: 0 Deaths: 1 The expected deaths on Narsha interludes: 0/3

[eurofox]

Yakuza 0 review

I’ve finally finished all the Kiryu games and I wanna talk about them.

Loads of spoilers though to follow.

Anyway I figured a prequel would be a good place to start and I definitely feel I made the right choice. I did miss out on references, like little Daigo for example, but that just makes a second playthrough even better. Plus, it makes a lot of the twists and turns a bit more exciting as I didn’t know who was destined to die/survive. Also I wasn’t used to some of the tropes they re-use a lot in this series so it was all fresh.

The good shit:

I really preferred the fighting style in this game, choosing between styles kept things fresh and added strategy. Majima’s styles were more fun, although breaker was nearly broken, no boss stood a chance. I didn’t bother unlocking the legendary styles though.

It did a good job building up Nishiki for Kiwami, I would not have cared about him otherwise. Same with Reina

Although it was a slow start, the story had me hooked fairly quickly and the cutscenes are really well done. Voice acting and music was great. I feel like 0 had the most well told and realistic story out of all the games. Far less dramatic and illogical nonsense (although there is still some). Some really strong characters and my opinion on them was constantly changing. The 3 lieutenants were standouts. 

I didn’t know anything about Kiryu beforehand and I really grew to like him, even if he made some dumbass decisions. I was slower to warm up to Majima but I ended up loving him too.

Punching money out of enemies never got old

Loads of stuff to do, although I just stuck with the main quests for the most of it

Tachibana, my beloved.

One of the better final boss fights in the series.

brilliant soundtrack. Most of the the games have good soundtracks but I think 0 is the best of them.

Kuze always appearing again annoyed me at first but then I got used to it and even started to like him. Of all the games the first Kuze is one of the only ones to kill me several times. And the last one. IDK if 0 is a harder game or if I just got better but I never had as much challenge with most other bosses in the series.

Great and varied heat actions.

2 cities, and both are good.

Sera gets some time to shine here, and the battle to reach him is funny. He’s easy enough though.

The tojo clan HQ actually seemed really intimidating as a first time player. I didn’t realise what a clown show it what turn out to be later of course. The big fight with Oda and Tachibana is a highlight

None of that dumbass purgatory shite. Never liked the Florist.

Majima awkwardly dancing in silence on teh bridge with noone paying attention is burned into my brain

Little Daigo and Ryuji

Disco dancing is fun, although I fucking suck at it.

The bad shit:

Hiding their ‘legendary’ styles behind mini games. I didn’t like cabaret club management or the real estate thing, found them pretty boring so missed out on all that.

Having to go and track down people for training with some move. Again, couldn’t be arsed. Not just this game, but I went through nearly them all without Tiger drop because I wasn’t bothered with komaki’s training. I prefer to have all that stuff in the level up screen.

No autosave, didn’t realise and had to do the first two hours again, nearly packed it in. Thank God for skippable cutscenes.

Following people slowly on occasion is irritating.

Car chase bit is fucking shit, at least it’s brief.

Gun/Knife enemies in this game are a pain in the arse. Same with Kiwami but never had much of a problem with the other games.

Makoto’s braindead fucking decision to confront the bad guy over the empty lot and demand he kill his 3 henchmen. She is a blind girl all alone on a roof surrounded by armed goons, she knows DAMN WELL how dangerous these guys are considering her past and was warned against it. Does it anyway. Traumatised or not, this is such a stupid fucking moment and I didn’t care that she got shot because what the hell else would have happened? He’d go ‘yeah ok’ and kill his lieutenants for her sake? 

Kazama’s nearly godlike powers of foresight started to get a bit silly. He’s really made out to be some kind of genius but I didn’t see much of that when you finally meet him in kiwami. Shimano as well, so much could have gone wrong with his plan , plus he’s  stubborn and implusive in kiwami, not the 4d chess player he’s made out to be here.

At the time I didn’t realise, but looking back it’s a shame they didn’t explore more of the old guard themselves. Kazama is just in jail, dojima and shimano barely appear. IDK, could have had more. It’s long enough as it is I guess.

Not getting to kill Sagawa. I guess it’s to make him seem ‘untouchable’ right til the end but ugh, I needed the satisfaction.

Where did all pink suit guy goons go when he get’s shot by that policeman? That whole section was a bit odd. Murdering a guy to send a kid to college when you already have a fulltime job and getting bribes? Hard to swallow. Didn’t care for pink suit guy much though so no loss

Not a big deal but no voices outside of cutscenes was a bit disappointing. There is a A LOT of dialogue though so I get it.

Oda was an interesting character but I don’t like how they tried to redeem him. He was sex trafficker, selfish and murderous to the end. IDK why makoto forgave him or why kiryu brought him up at the end along with actual victims.

Fetch quests. I don’t want to go and run around the city buying specific drinks for hobbos WHO THOUGHT THIS WAS FUN.

Should have been allowed to give Dojima a thrashing.

Where the fuck is Yumi, Kiryu’s great love and they don’t explore anything about her? Waste of an opportunity

Wei lee Han , I knew he was gonna blow up as soon as I saw the van :(

They make a big deal about civilians getting drawn in/ being killed but Awano shoots some random woman dead and it’s never mentioned again?

Every goon in town is looking for Kiryu and he goes out in the same crisp white suit and bright red shirt? I saw the joke where they jump a guy in the same clothes but it was silly. Even sillier was hiding in his usual haunt, the FIRST place anyone would look. Also even thinking of going back to his flat, thank god it got burnt out. Not a smart man.

The asian elder says Kazama was part of a raid on Little Asia and not even women and children were spared and Kiryu isn’t all that phased? It’s never mentioned again. Same with Kazama being referred to as a monster by the chairman. I thought the series would build upon that but nah. Strange .Did I miss something?

Ok the bad section seems long but it’s mostly nitpicks. I really had a lot of fun with this and went on to play the whole series back to back. However some of the other entries are showing their age now and some people did say starting with 0 sets the bar very high and I agree with that. The plot in this game has it’s outlandish moments but a lot less than some of the earlier games. It’s more character driven compared to some of the others and I prefer that approach. This one had two characters and I feel that’s the right amount, one can get samey and 4/5 can get overwhelming.